Page 64 of Under Pressure

Because all too soon… it’ll be over.

* * *

I wake in the morning, cold and alone in my bed, my body deliciously sore, but my heart aching along with it.

I don’t know why I’m disappointed. He gave me a night of the best sex I’ve ever had. The way he filled me, used my body, made me come twice in one night, which has never happened… I should be happy, right?

He’s a friend with benefits, not a boyfriend. Stop expecting him to treat you as anything more. He doesn’t want you like that.

I inhale and exhale slowly until I feel more in control, and go out into the kitchen to get breakfast.

As I’m pouring my granola cereal into a bowl, the front door opens, Kelsey doing the walk of shame at nine in the morning, not that she’s ever probably felt anything close to shame. Her short skirt rides up as she bends down to take off her heels, mascara flaking off in chunks underneath her eyes.

“Did you have a good night?” I ask, adding almond milk to my bowl.

“The guy couldn’t even make me come,” she scoffs. “It’s like he had no clue what was going on down there. Come on, it’s not that hard to figure out.”

I press my lips together tightly. “Sorry it was a bust.”

“How was your party thing with Tyler?” She walks over to the thermostat, punching at the buttons. I don’t know why she just doesn’t wear more clothes. Or move to Florida or something.

“It was good.” And it was. The party. The sex. Everything.

So why am I bummed?

“Now there’s a guy who looks like he knows how to make a girl come. Please tell me he does.”

I almost choke on my bite of cereal. “Kelsey, we’ve never talked about my, um, partners before.” It’s always her who has something to say.

“That’s because you’ve never dated anyone hot before. The way you went on about his voice last year, I thought he was another one of your dorky crushes.”

I actually had thought that too until I’d finally gotten a glimpse of him. But it washimI liked more than just how he looked.

I ignore the insult and remind her, “We’re not dating.” No matter how much I might secretly wish otherwise.

“Oh, right.” She pulls her phone out of her purse and heads off to the bathroom. “Hey, will you make me some French toast while I shower?”

I glance down at my cereal bowl, nearly empty now. “I’m almost done with breakfast.”

“Yeah, but you make the best French toast,” she begs, putting her hands in a prayer position in front of her.

“I—” I automatically go to agree, then pause. “No, I don’t feel like it.”

She stares at me for a moment, then cocks a hip, placing her hand on it in a sign of outrage. “Seriously? You can’t do this one thing for me?”

One thing? Is she the one who’s being serious right now? I practically make all her meals for her and she’s going to get on my back about not doing it a single time? I won’t even eat any of it since I’m full.

I swallow my words before I say something I regret and tell her instead, “Sorry, I have plans,” before rinsing out my bowl and placing it in the dishwasher.

She makes a scoffing noise and turns away, slamming the bathroom door behind her.

Sorry that she’s sexually frustrated, but I’m tired of doing everything for her. I go into my own room, secluding myself in here for the day with my Classical Mythology textbook. Maybe reading this will take my mind off both Kelsey and Tyler.

A girl can only deal with so much.

Chapter Eighteen

Tyler